A WOMAN who allowed her dogs to waste away to skin and bone will be allowed to keep the animals – but only under strict supervision.

Lynn Cummings, 62, was found guilty on three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to three dogs.

Allowing the dogs to be returned to her, District Judge Andrew Shaw said at Caernarfon Magistrates Court yesterday: “This is an unusual case. The animals are integrated into your life and I accept they are part of your lifestyle and that you rely on them.

“However you neglected them. It was not deliberate cruelty, but you allowed them to become very thin. Perhaps this was at a time when you did not look after yourself as well as you should.”

Cummings, of Nantlle, near Penygroes, will be supervised by the Probation Service for the next two years and must pay £250 costs.

Allowing the dogs to be returned to her, the judge ordered she must allow RSPCA inspectors reasonable access to her home. The court heard Cummings keeps a variety of animals at the isolated property in the Nantlle Valley.

Tudur Owen, prosecuting, said: “Officers visited on October 29 2009 and found three dogs in a very thin and emaciated state.

“Ziggy and Spook are lurcher type dogs and were described as being in a very poor condition. Every bone on Spook’s body could be seen under his coat. The same condition was observed in Ziggy.

“Fifi, a collie, was in a similar state but her condition was not as visible because of her longer coat.”

The dogs were taken to a vet who rated them at level one – the worst – on a scale that ranges from very thin to overweight. RSPCA inspector Mike Pugh said: “I’ve seen dogs in worse condition than these but they were dead. I was surprised one of them could even stand up.”

Ziggy had to be put down, but the other dogs have been looked after by the RSPCA for the past 15 months and have made full recoveries.

Nigel Weller, defending, said Cummings accepted the animals had been “overlooked”. He added: “She is a competent keeper of animals. She has been involved in farming from the age of 14 and has kept dogs since she was 20. There have been regular visits to her land by RSPCA inspectors and this is the first time she has fallen below the level expected of her. All other animals were found in fine condition.”